Multi-strand braiding device and method

Abstract

A device and method for braiding hair or other flexible filaments is disclosed herein. The device comprises a set of gears comprising sector gears and elliptical gears, the elliptical gears having a hollow center portion for receiving the hair or other flexible material. The device further comprises a controller, a motor, a power source, and a user interface. The user interface allows the user to select a variety of weaving patterns. The device and method of the present disclosure may be employed to weave four or more strands of material into a braid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A handheld device for intertwining strands of a flexible material, comprising:
 a plurality of sector gears disposed in a group, each sector gear having at least one adjacent sector gear in the group; 
 at least four elliptical gears, each of the at least four elliptical gears being arranged to rotate with any one of the plurality of sector gears that said elliptical gear comes into contact with, wherein each of the at least four elliptical gears has a hollow center portion for receiving one or more strands of a flexible material, positioning of the elliptical gears preventing adjacent sector gears from simultaneous rotation; only non-adjacent sector gears of the group being simultaneously rotatable; 
 at least one motor, engaged to rotate at least one of the sector gears; and 
 a controller, having a processor, configured to execute a set of instructions from any of a plurality of pattern modules by controlling the at least one motor to selectively rotate one or more of the plurality of sector gears and move the adjacent elliptical gears in an intertwining motion according to the set of instructions of one of the pattern modules. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sector gears are of a quantity that is one less than a quantity of the at least four elliptical gears, and wherein the plurality of sector gears and the at least four elliptical gears are arranged in a linear configuration. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor is of a quantity that is equal to a quantity of the plurality of sector gears, each motor engaged to drive a discrete one of the sector gears. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the motors is connected to a worm drive, the worm drive engaging teeth of the respective sector gear. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pivots, each pivot corresponding to one of the sector gears, wherein each of the sector gears is configured to rotate about one of the plurality of pivots. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing for containing the plurality of sector gears, the plurality of elliptical gears, and the motors; and a top opening in a top of the housing and a bottom opening in a bottom of the housing, wherein at least the plurality of elliptical gears are accessible through both the top opening and the bottom opening. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to monitor rotational displacement relative to each of the sector gears, and wherein the controller is configured to receive data from the sensors. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least four elliptical gears and at least a portion of each of the plurality of sector gears comprise gear teeth on the periphery thereof. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least four sleeves, each sleeve corresponding to one of the at least four elliptical gears, wherein each of the at least four sleeves is configured to be placed in the hollow center portion of one of the at least four elliptical gears. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the at least four sleeves is formed of an elastic material and wherein the at least four sleeves are substantially closed, wherein each of the at least four sleeves further comprises a slot therein for placing a strand therein. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least four clasps, each clasp corresponding to one of the at least four elliptical gears, wherein each of the at least four clasps is located in the hollow center portion of one of the at least four elliptical gears. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the motors are electric motors. 
     
     
       13. A handheld device for intertwining strands of a flexible material, comprising:
 a plurality of sector gears, of uniform diameter, disposed in a group, each sector gear having at least one adjacent sector gear in the group and a circumference that overlaps a circumference of the at least one adjacent sector gear, only non-adjacent sector gears of the group being simultaneously rotatable; 
 at least two symmetrically disposed semi-circular hollows, disposed at the circumference of each sector gear, having a shape defined by the circumferential overlap; 
 at least four elliptical gears, each elliptical gear disposed in at least one of the semi-circular hollows and arranged to rotate with any contacting one of the plurality of sector gears, each of the elliptical gears having a hollow center portion for receiving one or more strands of a flexible material therethrough, positioning of the elliptical gears preventing adjacent sector gears from simultaneous rotation; 
 a unique, independently controllable motor, engaged with each sector gear; and 
 a controller, including a processor, configured to independently and selectively operate any one of the plurality of motors in accordance with a pattern module, to selectively rotate one or more of the plurality of sector gears and move the elliptical gears in an intertwining motion. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sector gears are of a quantity that is one less than a quantity of the at least four elliptical gears, and wherein the plurality of sector gears and the at least four elliptical gears are arranged in a linear configuration. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the motors is connected to a worm drive, the worm drive engaging teeth of the respective sector gear. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of pivots, each pivot corresponding to one of the sector gears, wherein each of the sector gears is configured to rotate about one of the plurality of pivots. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a housing, having a top and a bottom, configured to contain the plurality of sector gears, the plurality of elliptical gears, and the motors; 
 a top opening in the top of the housing; and 
 a bottom opening in the bottom of the housing, at least the plurality of the elliptical gears being accessible through both the top opening and the bottom opening. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the at least four elliptical gears and at least a portion of each of the plurality of sector gears comprise gear teeth on a periphery thereof. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 13 , further comprising at least four sleeves, each sleeve corresponding to one of the at least four elliptical gears, each of the at least four sleeves configured to be placed in the hollow center portion of one of the at least four elliptical gears. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of the at least four sleeves is formed of an elastic material and wherein the at least four sleeves are substantially closed, wherein each of the at least four sleeves further comprises a slot therein for placing a strand therein. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 13 , further comprising at least four clasps, each clasp corresponding to one of the at least four elliptical gears, wherein each of the at least four clasps is located in the hollow center portion of one of the at least four elliptical gears. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the motors are electric motors. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of sensors, configured to monitor rotational displacement of a respective sector gear, the controller being configured to receive data from the sensors.